Reviews

"8888" FALSOPIANO

FALSOPIANO [Alfonso Santimone/Giorgio Pacorig/Danilo Danilo Gallo/Aljosa Jeric] - 8888 (El Gallo Rojo 314-46; Italy) Featuring Alfonso Santimone & Giorgio Pacorig on pianos, Danilo Gallo on double-bass and Aljosa Jeric on drums. We got this promo in more than a month ago and have been marveling at it ever since. Although there a handful of records with two pianists playing together (Hancock & Corea or Jaki Byard & Ran Blake), there are very few with two pianists and a rhythm section. The only musician here with whom I am previously familiar is bassist Danilo Gallo who has a couple of discs as a leader on the El Gallo Rojo label.This disc consists of more than half collective improvs with a few originals by either pianist and a few select covers (Ligeti, Schoenberg & Ornette Coleman). On "Continoom" both pianists do a fine job of shadowing each other as well as play odd figures again each other. Although the collective improv are usually more sparse, there is still some spirited interaction between all four members of the quartet. There are a few pieces for just the two pianos which are pretty great since the pianists seem write so well for all four hands involved. One section might sound free while the other pianist interjects occasional seasoning to keep things off balance or surprising. Ligeti's "Musica Ricerata" seems like an appropriate choice since it fits so well into the skewered side of the way this quartet plays at odd angles. The twisted inside the piano work is what makes this so special, like a clock breaking down with its springs being pulled apart. Whether improvised or not, every piece is fascinating and mysterious. I can't say that I've heard anything quite like Falsopiano. A world of wonders.